Michelin Challenge Bibendum
Encyclopedia
The Michelin Challenge Bibendum is a major annual sustainable mobility event, sponsored by the French tire company Michelin
. In December 2008, Michelin announced that it was postponing the 2009 Michelin Challenge Bibendum event—scheduled for April 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—until 2010, due to the economic crisis. That event ran from 30 May through 2 June 2010.
made the decision to host an event that would showcase technological research into "clean vehicles" and allow them to be assessed in real operating conditions.
“Sun Diesel” Golf IV, Ford Escape Hybrid, Opel Zafira Hydrogen 3, Nissan X-Trail Fuel Cell Vehicle, Peugeot Quark
and the Audi A8 TDI.
The Volkswagen Mark 4 (Type 1J) was shown at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai. It was a diesel-electric hybrid called the Golf ECO.Power, which had a 76 kW 1.4L three-cylinder diesel engine with a 15 kW electric engine. The car attained a fuel consumption as low as 3.8L per 100 km (62 miles per gallon).
, Volvo
, Peugeot
and Nissan were present.
The Peugeot 307 CC Hybride HDi generated a lot of interest. It was a diesel-electric 2-door-cabriolet hybrid version of the 307 that can achieve 80 miles per gallon. The vehicle was in the concept stages. In addition, a diesel-electric hybrid, unlike petrol-electric vehicles, could be totally independent of oil since pure biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine.
"Renault
eco²" (Article: Autonews.fr) and a prototype of the Volvo C30
diesel electric hybrid were scheduled to make an appearance.
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
. In December 2008, Michelin announced that it was postponing the 2009 Michelin Challenge Bibendum event—scheduled for April 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—until 2010, due to the economic crisis. That event ran from 30 May through 2 June 2010.
History
In 1998, executives at MichelinMichelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
made the decision to host an event that would showcase technological research into "clean vehicles" and allow them to be assessed in real operating conditions.
2004
From 12–14 October, over 106 companies attended the event, with 40% coming from China. Approximately 140 vehicles were registered, ranging from passenger cars to electric bicycles and buses. Notable vehicles included the hybrid VolkswagenVolkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
“Sun Diesel” Golf IV, Ford Escape Hybrid, Opel Zafira Hydrogen 3, Nissan X-Trail Fuel Cell Vehicle, Peugeot Quark
Peugeot Quark
Peugeot Quark is a concept car from Peugeot, rather like a four wheeled motorcycle/quad-bike. The Quark was first displayed at the 2004 Paris Motor Show....
and the Audi A8 TDI.
The Volkswagen Mark 4 (Type 1J) was shown at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai. It was a diesel-electric hybrid called the Golf ECO.Power, which had a 76 kW 1.4L three-cylinder diesel engine with a 15 kW electric engine. The car attained a fuel consumption as low as 3.8L per 100 km (62 miles per gallon).
2006
In the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2006, the ZENN received the highest overall rank in the Urban Car category. Various products and concepts were on display, ranging from new hybrid electric vehicles to next-generation fuel cell vehicles. Major auto manufacturers such as General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
and Nissan were present.
The Peugeot 307 CC Hybride HDi generated a lot of interest. It was a diesel-electric 2-door-cabriolet hybrid version of the 307 that can achieve 80 miles per gallon. The vehicle was in the concept stages. In addition, a diesel-electric hybrid, unlike petrol-electric vehicles, could be totally independent of oil since pure biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine.
2007
A Concept LoganDacia Logan
The Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
"Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
eco²" (Article: Autonews.fr) and a prototype of the Volvo C30
Volvo C30
The Volvo C30 is a small family car produced by Volvo Cars. The C30 is a three-door, four-seat hatchback powered by straight-4 and straight-5 engines. The car is a hatchback version of the S40/V50/C70 range, and uses the same Ford C1 platform. It is being marketed as a premium hatchback or a...
diesel electric hybrid were scheduled to make an appearance.
Locations
The location of the event changes every year.- 2011 Berlin, Germany (18–22 May 2011)
- 2010 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 2007 Shanghai, China
- 2006 Paris, France
- 2005 Kyoto, Japan
- 2004 Shanghai, China
- 2003 Sonoma, CaliforniaSonoma, CaliforniaSonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
- 2002 Heidelberg, Germany
- 2001 Fontana, CaliforniaFontana, CaliforniaFontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
- 2000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
- 1998 Clermont-Ferrand, France